Scott Morrison has stepped away from a suggestion he would campaign with Tony Abbott and promote him to Cabinet if the Coalition wins the election.Source:AAP

Last week, Mr Morrison was asked whether he planned on campaigning with Mr Abbott and would consider bringing him back on to his frontbench.

“They’re decisions I hope to be able to make, but I’m not going to presume upon them, on the Australian people,” he said.

But yesterday, Mr Morrison said he thought people were “over-interpreting my answer”.

“All I’m simply saying is Tony is a member of the team, and I want to see him re-elected in Warringah, and he’ll have my absolute support to help him do that,” the PM said, adding: “Like every single member of my team.”

Tony Abbott was one of the prime instigators of Peter Dutton’s failed challenge of the Liberal leadership last year.Source:AAP

When asked about the targeting of MPs like Mr Abbott and Peter Dutton by Labor as dinosaurs, Mr Morrison said: “Well, I don’t agree with them on that. They’re members of my team. I want to see all of my team elected”.

Asked if he thought they were damaging the Liberal Party brand, Mr Morrison said: “They’re all members of my team, and I want to see them all re-elected because that’s how we form a government again.”

Tony Abbott was viewed by many colleagues as a destabilising force for the government when Malcolm Turnbull was PM.Source:AAP

His comments come after Mr Abbott said he would be willing to take on the top job again if he was asked.

While a Coalition win would give Mr Morrison a strong hold on the leadership, if he loses, the role would be thrown open.

“It will be up to the party room,” Mr Abbott told an election forum at Manly Yacht Club on Monday evening.

“If they want me, they will need to invite me. But I am not expecting that.

“I am not going to shoulder anyone aside for the top job because for me it has never been about that.”

During last year’s chaotic leadership challenge, in which Home Affairs Minister Mr Dutton tried and failed to seize the top job from Mr Turnbull, it was said one of Mr Dutton’s major encouragers was Mr Abbott.

Mr Abbott supported the controversial Mr Dutton in the ballot and began speaking out against the then-PM’s leadership style and key policies.

The long-time Warringah MP is facing a formidable challenge in his Sydney seat form high-profile independent candidate Zali Steggall.